Container orienter



June 24, 1969 I s V S JR" ET AL 3,451,523

CONTAINER ORIENTER Filed July 14. 196'? Sheet of 4 INVENTORS JOHN S.EVANS, JR. JAMES E. MCGHEE ATTORNEY June 24, 1969 5, V N JR, ET ALCONTAINER ORIENTER Sheet Filed July 14. 1967 INVENTORS JOHN S. EVANS,JR. JAMES E. MCGHEE ATTORNEY June 24, 1969 5, EVANS, JR ET Al. 3,451,523

CONTAINER ORIENTER Sheet Filed July 14, 1967 qmipm-v mvswroks JOHN s.EVANS, JR 7 JAMES E. McGHEE m: motu a u in @5340 9. 9 0238 mm. mewawm m9NEE- 553 124 6 Pmwmm ATTORNEY United States Patent US. Cl. 19833 9Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Cans of food are to be oriented forpacking in an opensided carton so that selected portions of the canlabels face outwardly and are visible to retail purchasers. The labelledcans are conveyed to a large rotating disc of the star-wheel typedefining curved pockets for holding the cans in predetermined peripheralpositions on the disc, but free for relative rotation with respect tothe disc. The centrifugal forces generated by the rotating disc forcethe cans outwardly against a fixed wall that partially encircles thedisc, and the dragging effect of the wall causes the cans to rotate onthe disc until each has a predetermined orientation with respect to thedisc axis. While the cans are rotating on the disc, a photoelectricviewing apparatus senses a predetermined portion of the label andactuates a clamp to lock the can in its desired orientation and preventsfurther rotation of the can on the disc. Arriving at a discharge point,each can is automatically unclamped and discharged onto an outputconveyor for transmission to the packing station, each of the cans onthe output conveyor having a desired label orientation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field.Conveyors, Power-Driven, particularlyOrienting Articles on Conveyors (19833).

Prior art.Cans of food or beverage have previously been packed forshipment to retail merchants in large cartons, from which the cans areremoved for display on shelves to retail purchasers, so that orientedpacking has not been necessary. Some beverages have been displayed forretail in six-pack carrying cartons with handles, so that the customercan carry away six cans at once. However, six-pack cartons havegenerally had closed sides that hide the labels of the cans, andoriented packing has not been necessary. Now, however, it has beenproposed to provide six-pack cartons, and orienting of the can labels toface outwardly is desirable for the sake of appearance andidentification.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the invention is to orientcontainers with selected portions of the labels facing in predetermineddirections. Accordingly, the labelled cans are conveyed to a largerotating disc of the star-wheel type defining curved pockets for holdingthe cans in predetermined peripheral positions on the disc, but free forrelative rotation with respect to the disc. The centrifugal forcesgenerated by the roating disc force the cans outwardly against a fixedwall that partially encircles the disc, and the dragging effect of thewall causes the cans to rotate on the disc until they all have the sameorientation with respect to the disc axis. As each can arrives at thedesired condition of orientation, a predetermined portion of the labelis sensed by a photoelectric viewing apparatus, which actu- 3,451,523Patented June 24, 1969 ates a clamp to clamp the can to its pocket andprevent further rotation on the disc. Arriving at a discharge point,each can is automatically unclamped and discharged onto an outputconveyor for transmission to the packing station, all the cans on theoutput conveyor having the same label orientation.

THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a cross-sectional plan view of an apparatus inaccordance with the invention, the view being taken on a plane of lines1-1 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional elevation view taken on the plane of lines22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a circuit diagram of a portion of the invention shown inFIGURES 1 and 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a wave diagram and timing chart illustrating the operationof the circuit of FIGURE 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawingand particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown an apparatus 12 fororienting a number of containers 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d, 13c, 131, 13g, 13h,13i, 13f, 13k, 13l and 13m so that predetermined portions of the labelsface in the same direction. Since the tops of the cans do not havelabels, this predetermined portion cannot be shown in FIG. 1, but isindicated schematically on each can by a dot 14, it being understoodthat the dot '14 does not actually appear on the top of the can. As anexample of what the predetermined portion of the label may actually looklike, in FIG. 2 the label of e.g. can 13b is shown as made up of agenerally blue portion 16 and a generally white portion 17 divided by avertical interface 18 so that the can in counterclockwise rotation asshown by arrows 19 (FIG. 1) would present to a viewer a change of colorfrom white to blue as the interface 18 passes from left to right acrossthe viewers field of view. The dot 14 corresponds in each case to theborder 18. Another interface 21 representing a change of color from blueto white is shown on can 13g of FIG. 2, but this interface will not beused in the example of the present description for determining theorientation of the can. It will be understood of course, that theproblem to be solved in the orientation of any array of cans depends inpart upon the pictorial or descriptive label that is to be used on thecan, but in almost every label there is a unique portion defined by aninterface 18 between two colors, so that the apparatus 12 describedbelow needs only to be adjusted in the optimum manner to take advantageof color changes presented during the rotation of any can label.

In the example shown, the cans 13 are conveyed in serial order but inrandom orientation upon a conveyor belt 22 to and along a flangedfeeding station chute 23, which feeds the cans tangentially onto theperiphery of a rotating element here shown as a disc 24 mounted on ahollow shaft or sleeve 26, which is in turn fixed for rota-' tion on adrive shaft 27. The disc 24 is described as of the star-wheel type, inthat formed thereon are nearly semicircular upstanding flanges 28 spacedaround the periphery of the disc and each presenting a concave sidefacing radially outwardly to define pockets for holding the cans 13 inpredetermined peripheral positions on the disc 24, but free for rotationwith respect to the disc. The disc rotates in a counterclockwisedirection as indicated by the arrow 29 at a sufficient rotational speedthat, as the cans arrive on the disc, they are thrown radially outwardlyby centrifugal forces, and frictionally engage a curved flange 31 thatis fixed in position around the periphery of the disc 24. The draggingeffect of the flange 31 causes the cans to rotate with respect to thedisc as indicated by the arrows 19, until the predetermined portion ofthe label (spot 14) faces the axis 32 of the disc. -At this point in theprocess, each can has the desired orientation, and steps are then takento stop the rotation of the can with respect to the disc 24 and to holdthe can in the desired orientation until it can be discharged from thedisc.

The means for stopping the rotation of the can on the disc is here shownas including a clamp member 33 for each can position on the disc, theclamp member consisting of an upstanding pin 34 extending from a pivotedlever 36 on the underside of the disc and arranged to swing in anarcuate slot 37 in the disc so as to engage the lower rim of the canwhen the can arrives in its orienting position and clamp the can againstits corresponding pocket flange 28, thus locking the can against furtherrotation with respect to the disc. The lever 36 is actuated whenclamping is desired by means of a compressed air cylinder 38, which ismounted on the underside of the disc by means of a bracket 39. Each pin34 has a retracted position (e.g., the pins corresponding with cans 13a,13b, 13c, 13d, 13e, 13g, 13 13k and 13l in which the pin is withdrawnsufficiently to permit feeding and discharge of the cans to and from thepockets, and a clamping position (as shown for cans 13 13h and 131') inwhich the pin clamps the can against the pocket flange 28. Means areprovided for automatically unclamping each can when it arrives in theposition of can 13 so that the can can be discharged onto a dischargechute 41 and a discharge conveyor belt 42. Of course, as the cans areunclamped and discharged, each undergoes further rotation as by engagingthe flange 43 of the discharge chute, but the degree of rotation foreach can between the discharge station (131') and the conveyor 42 issubstantially the same, so the cans nonetheless all end up on theconveyor 42 with the desired predetermined orientations.

For the sake of exemplary illustration, the arc 44 as shown on FIG. 1represents the rotation acceleration zone within which the can isbrought to full rotational speed with respect to the disc 24. The are 46represents a zone in which each can undergoes at least 360 of rotationwith respect to the disc; arc 47 represents 720 of rotation; and arc 48represents the effective scan and lock zone for the cans on the disc.

The means by which correct orientation of the cans on the disc issensed, for the operation of the clamp member 33, is shown as includinga number of individual photoelectric sensing devices 51 extending from acentral housing 52 that is mounted on the disc around the sleeve 26.Each of the sensing devices 51 is directed at an elongated vertical slot53 formed in the middle portion of the corresponding pocket flange 28;and a toroidal fluorescent light tube 54 is mounted on the housing 52above the photoelectric elements 51 so as to illuminate that portion ofeach can that is visible to the photoelectric device through the slot53. For purposes later to be described, each photoelectric device hasformed thereon a normalizing orifice 56 arranged to receive some of thelight directed from the tube 54. The photoelectric devices 51 are eachconnected to circuits for detecting the desired change of color of thecan label that has been predeermined for actuating the clamp member 34,these circuits being contained in an electronics housing 57 that ismounted on the sleeve 26 at a higher level. Power connections for thesecircuits, and certain other connections to be described, are made tofixed electronic elements through a set of slip rings 58 and brushes 59,the brushes being mounted on one or more fixed frame elements 61 and 62.Also mounted on the housing 57 are a pair of magnetic reed switches 63and 64 for each can position. The switch 63 is used as the reset switchto enable the operation of the detecting and clamping circuits as eachcan leaves the feeding station (position of can 13d and is a normallyopen switch that is closed by passage under a permanent magnet 66 thatis mounted on the frame 61 at the feeding station. The switch 64 ismounted on housing 57 in a radially more inward position so as not to beoperated by the magnet 66, but instead is closed by means of a permanentmagnet 67 that is mounted on the frame member 62 as the correspondingcan arrives at the discharge station (position of can 131'). The magnet67 temporarily closes the normally open switch 64 to effect theunclamping action of the clamp member 34. While the magnet 67 is shownas mounted at the feeding station (position of can 13d) and the magnet67 at the discharge station (position of can 131'), it will beunderstood that in practice the magnets may be located at any convenientradii of the apparatus 12, so long as the individual can switches 63 and64 are correctly positioned to be closed when the individual can is atthe feeding and discharge stations, respectively.

As shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, each photoelectric device 51 includes anoptical detector or photocell 103. The electronics system rot-ates withthe star-wheel disc 24, and the can to be oriented rotates with respectto the optic-a1 detector 103 so as to bring the blue-whi'te orwhite-blue interface across the face of the optical detector. The changein reflectivity experienced by the optical detector causes apositive-going change in the output of the voltage from the opticaldetector. With the polarity of volage applied to the cell as indicatedon FIGURE 3, the cell gives a positive pulse for either a blue-whitechange or a white-blue change. If the current flow is downward as shownin the figure, a white-blue change generates a positive-going voltageand with the flow upward a bluewhite change gives a positive-goingvoltage. This positivegoing change is differentiated in a diiferentiator104 and amplified in an amplifier 105 and applied to one input of a nandgate 106. Also provided are two flip-flops 107 and 109. If flip-flop 109is not in the set position, the pulse from amplified 105 is appliedthrough nand gate 106 to the set trigger on flip-flop 107. The setoutput of flip-flop 107 is applied to the input of an amplifier 108,which operates and discharges the voltage on a capacitor 118 so as tooperate a solenoid valve 110, allowing air pressure to air cylinder 38which clamps clamp 34. The star-wheel disc 24 continues to rotate untilthe unclamp switch 64 passes in proximity to fixed magnet 67, whichresets flip-flop 107 and takes the applied voltage ofl? input toamplifier 108, which turns off and releases solenoid valve 110. Aircylinder 38 is retracted by a spring 111, releasing the can 13 toconveyor belt 42.

The operation of flip-flop 109 is as follows: with reference to timingchart FIGURE 4 the opposite polarity of signal is generated in theamplifier 108 at the time of clamping signal. This positive pulse isapplied to the set side of flip-flop 109 which is then set and disablesnand gate 106 so that no further changes generated by the opticaldetector can generate false triggers into the clamping system. At thetime of unclamp and release of the can from the starwheel there is adead time on the machine which continues until the star-wheel rotates tothe can feeding station. At this time, rese't switch 63 passes inproximity to magnet 66 and is closed to reset flip-flop 109 and toenable and gate 106 so that viewing signals will pass through the systemto actuate the clamping mechanism for the next sequence of detection andclamping.

The RC network 117 and 118 operates as follows: during the abovementioned dead time, capacitor 118 charges up to peak applied voltage.At time of clamp the high voltage from the capacitor 118 is dischargedthrough the solenoid at a high instantaneous current rate to overcomethe initial magnetic and mechanical inertia of the valve armature. Afterdischarge, the holding current on the solenoid drops to a value,determined by the applied voltage and series resistance 117, resultingin the minimal power dissipation in the clamping electronics and powersupply.

The normalizing orifice 56 in the photoelectric device 51 operates asfollows: the photocell 103 habitually takes on a voltage levelrepresentative of the last illumination level experienced. During thedead time, previously mentioned, the cell 103 receives ambient light andreflections from miscellaneous objects. These may cause the cell to takeon a volt-age representative of the relative reflectivity experiencedjust before it enters active time and begins to scan the surface of thecan to be oriented. As the cell varies in output between two limits 'ofvoltage high and low, a direct ray from the light source 54 is bled intothe cell through the orifice 56 to light bias the cell to a voltagelevel approximately halfway between the limits of positive and negativeexcursion created by the change in reflected light from the can 13. Thisbias minimizes the swing created by extraneous objects and lets the cellwork the wide swing range when viewing the reflectivity changes. Areflective surface 120 creates an even illumination on the can 13,whereas the direct ray through the orifice 56 comes from a point sourceadjustable in intensity through the limits required to maintain the celloutput at an average value, when not viewing the object.

It will be clear that when a sensing is made of the predeterminedportion of the label, the actuation of the clamp member 33 to lock thecan may be delayed for any desired time delay by appropriatepreadjustment of the circuit for actuating the clamp. This arrangementcan be used for the purpose of giving certain of the cans in a givensequence different orientations that the remaining cans of the sequence,although the identical color interface is sensed on each can label.

Thus there has been described an apparatus for orienting containers withselected portions of the labels facing in predetermined directions. Thelabelled cans are conveyed to a large rotating disc of the star-wheeltype defining curved pockets for holding the cans in predeterminedperipheral positions on the disc, but free for relative rotation withrespect to the disc. The centrifugal forces generated by the rotatingdisc force the cans outwardly against -a fixed wall that partiallyencircles the disc, and the dragging efllect of the wall causes the cansto rotate on the disc until they all have the same orientation withrespect to the disc axis. As each can arrives at the desired conditionof orientation, a predetermined portion of the label is sensed by aphotoelectric viewing apparatus, which actuates a clamp to clamp the canto its pocket and prevent further rotation on the disc. Arriving at adischarge point, each can is automatically unclamped and discharged ontoan output conveyor for transmission to the packing station, all the canson the output conveyor having the same label orientation.

What we claim is: 1. An orienting machine for containers, comprising:means for rotating each container separately to bring a predeterminedmarked portion of said container to a predetermined orientation;

said rotating means including a rotating element, means formed thereonfor holding said containers in predetermined peripheral positionsthereon but free for rotation with respect to said rotating element, andmeans engaging said containers and causing rotation of said containerswith respect to said rotating element;

sensing means arranged to view each of said containers and to emit acorresponding signal when said predetermined marked portion of eachcontainer arrives at said predetermined orientation; and

means coupled to said sensing means for stopping the rotation of eachcontainer upon reception of said corresponding signal;

said stopping means including a movable clamp member mounted on saidrotating element near each container for movement between a retractedposition away from said container and a clamping position clamping saidcontainer with respect to said rotating element.

2. The combination recited in claim 1, wherein said sensing meansincludes:

a photoelectric sensing device for each of said predetermined peripheralpositions of said rotating element, said devices being mounted on saidrotating element for rotation therewith; and

light source means for illuminating each of said cans throughout apredetermined field of view of said photoelectric device.

3. The combination recited in claim 2, and also includcontainer feedingmeans located at a predetermined fixed feeding station on the peripheralpath of said rotating element for feeding said containers to saidrotating element;

container discharge means located at a predetermined fixed dischargestation on the peripheral path of said rotating element for dischargingsaid containers from said rotating element;

said feeding and discharge stations being spaced peripherally aroundsaid rotating element for a suflicient distance to ensure that eachcontainer arrives at said predetermined orientation before arriving atsaid discharge station; and

means mounted at said discharge station for actuating each of saidclamping members on arrival at said discharge station so as to unclampthe respective container to free said container for discharge.

4. The combination recited in claim 3, and also including:

means mounted at least in part on said rotating element for disablingeach of said corresponding clamp members from being operated forclamping action more than once during each revolution of said rotatingmember from said feeding station to said feding station.

5. The combination recited in claim 4, wherein said last-named meansincludes:

means for receiving said signal from each of said photoelectric sensingdevices at the moment when the corresponding container is clamped, andfor disabling the corresponding clamp member from being operated againfor clamping action at least until said corresponding clamp member hasreturned to said feeding station; and

means for relieving said disabling means so as to again permit clampingaction of each clamping member as said clamping member begins a newrevolution from said feeding station.

6. The combination recited in claim 5, wherein:

said photoelectric device is mounted in a housing having an aperatureformed therein for transmitting direct light from said light source tosaid photoelectric device for normalization thereof.

7. The combination recited in claim 6, wherein:

said clamp member includes an actuating solenoid coupled to receive saidsignal from said sensing means; and

a power source an capacitor coupled in series to said solenoid fordischarge of said capacitor upon energization of said solenoid by saidsignal and for imparting an additional energizing impulse to saidsolenoid.

8. The combination recited in claim 1, wherein:

said means for engaging and rotating said containers includes a flangefixed in position at the periphery of said rotating element and engagedby said containers under the influence of centrifugal forces generatedby the rotation of said rotating element.

9. The combination recited in claim 7, wherein: References Cited sai imeans for engag1ng and tota'tmg 531d containers UNITED STATES PATENTSincludes a flange fixed in position at the periphery of said rotatingelement and engaged by said containers 5 1938 Rueunder the influence ofcentrifiugal forces generated by the rotation of Said rotating element 5E. Primary Examiner.

